One on OnePrague lost something after ’89, says creator of historical photoblog
Piotrek Gawlinski

Piotrek Gawlinski unearths and scans rare and frequently stunning pictures
of the Czech capital for his excellent historical photoblog Lost and Found
in Prague. A Polish tour guide based in the city, Gawlinski uses his Tumblr
account to draw attention to work by greats such as Josef Sudek but also
provides a unique forum for pictures by unknown photographers who captured
a now disappeared Prague.

Piotrek Gawlinski, photo: Ian Willoughby
When we spoke, Gawlinski explained the thinking behind Lost and Found in
Prague, which started as an outlet for his own photos before turning into
what it is today.

“It’s like when you’re looking for something, you’re going to find
it. And when you’re just going through the city and you’re thinking
about pictures, views, angles, suddenly you find things of which you’ve
never been aware before. I mean books, photos.

“It’s not only in antique shops. Because people probably imagine that
I’m going from one antique shop to another and I’ve got my route
through Prague once a week, and that’s it.”

That’s what I expected.

“Sometimes you find it on your way. For example, on the street even, on
the pavement, literally. Maybe an old book and inside something
interesting. For example a photo, a graphic…”

Or a postcard.

“Or a postcard, an old postcard. And suddenly I realise it’s not only
my content. Actually, there is zero percent my content. But there is Josef
Sudek in it, there is Jaromír Funke in it. A lot of well-known and less
known figures that I want to show to people.

“From the beginning it was like writing a diary – you’re writing
just for yourself, but deep inside there’s a hope that someone’s going
to find this one day and read it, and that it’s going to be a great
experience for that person. And I guess it’s the same with Lost and Found
in Prague right now.”

But I guess you must find most of your photos in antique shops or in books
that you find in secondhand bookshops?

“Secondhand bookshops. But also on the bookshelves of my friends. It’s
maybe 50 percent antique shops – but that’s only 50 percent. Otherwise
it’s friends, family. Sometimes people send me photos, but actually I
never use them because they’re not as great as I need.”

I could look at your website all day and I’ve spent a lot of time
looking at the great photos on it. What do you think is the appeal of these
old photographs of Prague? Why are people interested? Why are you
interested?

“That’s a tough question, actually. I’m still looking for something
which is lost. The city is still great, and one of the greatest cities in
Europe and the whole world.

“But something was definitely lost after the revolution. If you just
look at the panorama of Prague from the ‘50s, that’s a different shot
from right now on postcards.”

Now Prague is more commercial? Or more like other cities? What’s the
difference?

“Each city is different from another. It’s all about the details, the
spices that simply give us the unique genuine taste. And I guess, Prague
still has those elements that are unique, definitely.

“But if you’re asking me about the commercial side of life here,
it’s obvious. It’s obvious. When you speak to people, Czech people, who
moved during communism to Western countries and then came back to Prague,
they say the difference is huge.

“Even though the Communists weren’t the greatest when it came to
preservation, but still there was that part which we can call the soul, the
heart, something mystical… that part is missing in many, many places.

“Still, there is some kind of spirit inside. I guess that’s the main
aim. It’s all about aesthetics.”

That’s what comes across in many of the photos – that Prague in those
days was simpler, purer, there’s less visual noise.

“That’s a great phrase you used, visual noise. When you look at
advertising for example, you have neon signs, which is one of the greatest
examples of that part of life. Because we need to live with that, because
there’s no other way, actually.

“When you just look at photos of Prague Castle from the ‘50s and
‘60s, there are actually no people in the courtyards. Right now we have a
million people every year visiting Prague Castle.

“I’m not saying that this is good or bad. But that’s the difference
those sites, the very same sites, 30, 40 years ago and nowadays.”

Are there any particular photographers whose work appeals to you
especially? Or are there any periods of photography of the city that
you’re interested in?

“It depends on mood or on the situation. Right now, definitely Ladislav
Sitenský. Jaromír Funke. Josef Sudek, but Sudek is a genius, so he’s
going to be on the list every time you ask me, on the podium, let’s say.

“And periods? ‘50s and ‘60s. Sometimes I also like photographs from
the ‘80s. And even from the ‘70s! So all the decades between the second
world war and the Velvet Revolution.

“What I find interesting in the ‘70s for example is the light and the
colour in the shots. It’s something you can’t fake on Instagram, or
whatever. You can use any kind of filter, but it’s not going to be the
same. That’s why it’s hard to say which particular decade I love the
most.”

What about the reaction of users of the site. Do you find that there are
particular eras or particular photographers whose work is retweeted a lot
or posted by other people?

“I guess black and white photography is reblogged more often. And sites
with panoramas of the Castle and the Lesser Town – that perfect view of
Prague like you can see on postcards on every corner.

“Charles Bridge, especially with cars on it, because until I guess 1964
there was traffic on Charles Bridge. So that I think is interesting…”

Historical curiosities?

“Yes, sometimes. Like there was a nice photo from the archives of Prague
Castle of a huge book with a tiny lady on it. That’s in some sense a
curiosity.

“But also, you know, photos with people. For example, under the Orloj
astronomical clock in perfect shots by Marie Šechtlová, from the ‘60s.

“It depends. Sometimes something which is more moody, sometimes
something which is more clear and obvious, like Wenceslas Square in the
year 1933, for example.

“But mostly there is one certain element that people are going to
reblog, and it’s black and what photography.”